In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Liu Changfu and Ma Youcai sat down as instructed, appearing somewhat reserved.

Ma Youcai subconsciously reached for a cigarette to ease the tension. He pulled out half a pack of slightly crumpled "Daqianmen" cigarettes from his pocket and offered it to Deputy Director Li. Deputy Director Li waved his hand and said, "I just smoked one, and my throat feels uncomfortable."

He handed it to Grandpa Tong, who snorted coldly, turned his head away, and ignored him.

He could only awkwardly turn to Yang Guangming, who smiled and waved his hand to indicate that he wouldn't.

Ma Youcai then took out a cigarette, lit it after striking several matches, took a deep drag, and the pungent smell of cheap tobacco filled the air. He leaned back in his chair, trying to appear relaxed, but his eyes flickered in the swirling smoke, revealing his inner tension.

Deputy Director Li didn't beat around the bush; he looked directly at Liu Changfu, who was sitting opposite him with his back ramrod straight, and asked bluntly:

"Old Liu, you're back just in time. Xiao Jun probably told you about what happened during the day, and it's all over the place in the courtyard."

Putting everything else aside, carefully check your house. Besides those two pounds of pig intestines, have you checked your money and food coupons—are they missing? That's the key.

In an instant, everyone's eyes in the room were focused on Liu Changfu.

Grandpa Tong held his breath, Yang Guangming observed quietly, Deputy Director Li's eyes were sharp, and Ma Youcai stopped smoking, staring nervously at Liu Changfu's mouth.

This issue is crucial, directly related to the nature of the matter and the direction of its subsequent handling, and may even determine whether the Ma brothers will face severe legal sanctions.

Liu Changfu remained expressionless as he faced the various gazes of the crowd, some inquiring, some nervous, some expectant, as if the focus of everyone's attention was none of his concern.

He shook his head, his voice as calm as a bottomless lake, revealing no emotional fluctuations: "Thank you for your concern, Director Li, and thank you all for your trouble."

When I got home from get off work, I carefully checked where I kept the money and tickets. They were hidden well, so I confirmed that they weren't missing.

Those two pounds of pig intestines are indeed gone.

His statement was extremely concise, without any unnecessary complaints or descriptions.

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Li's tense shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as no money or tickets are lost, the matter remains within the scope of neighborhood disputes and petty theft, making it much more flexible to handle and less stressful for him, without immediately escalating to the point of filing a case for investigation.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Grandpa Tong's face without any attempt to hide it.

He had originally hoped that the Liu family's loss of money would serve as a way to teach the lawless Ma brothers a lesson, but now it seemed that the Liu family would have to swallow their anger for the time being, which made him feel extremely frustrated.

Yang Guangming silently observed Liu Changfu's reaction, thinking to himself that this man, who was rumored to have roamed the streets before liberation and even served as a "gang leader," was indeed no ordinary person.

His house was burgled, and his son was even falsely accused and beaten for trying to catch the thief. Yet he was so calm at this moment, without even showing the slightest anger or grievance. Either he was extremely shrewd and good at hiding his emotions, or he already had other plans and intentions in mind and disdained to get entangled in verbal disputes or momentary temper tantrums.

Liu Changfu's subsequent actions further confirmed Yang Guangming's speculation.

Unlike typical parents who have been wronged, he did not cry out about how wronged or pitiful his son was, or strongly demand that Director Li uphold justice and severely punish the thief.

Instead, he turned his attention to Ma Youcai, who was sitting to the side, clearly relieved that he hadn't lost any money or tickets, and whose lips were even starting to curl into a smile.

His tone remained calm, even devoid of any anger, as if he were discussing a troublesome matter that was none of his business but which he had to deal with:

“Brother Ma, what happened has already occurred. Xiao Jun is young and doesn’t know any better. In his impulsiveness, he misunderstood your family’s Da Guo and Er Guo, and even made a fuss about searching your house. He may have also been verbally abusive. He was indeed wrong. I apologize to your family on his behalf.”

He surprisingly took the initiative to humble himself and shoulder the blame for the "misunderstanding" and "mistake" onto his son, which completely surprised everyone.

Ma Youcai was taken aback by Liu Changfu's attitude and forgot to take a drag on his cigarette.

Immediately, that arrogant and smug look on his face resurfaced uncontrollably, even more so than before.

He exhaled a thick white smoke ring, glanced sideways at Liu Changfu, and spoke in a gruff voice, his tone carrying a self-satisfied air:
"Brother Liu, what you said makes sense."

We're all in our fifties or sixties, and we've lived in this compound for so many years, we understand the principles.

"I, Ma Youcai, used to be a gambler when I was young, and my reputation isn't great, but I won't hide that."

He even brought up his "glorious history" with a touch of "pride".

"But I have one advantage: I always accept my losses! Once I'm at the gambling table, the rules are set, and I lose, I pay up honestly and never cheat! Cheating is not what a man does!"

He patted his chest, almost spitting saliva onto the table.

His meaning was very clear: he was determined to hold onto the bet Liu Xiaojun had made before the search of his house—a promise to pay ten yuan if he couldn't find anything—and to get that ten yuan for sure.

"so."

Ma Youcai shrugged, looking both entitled and a little aggrieved. "Since you've already searched, and it was you who insisted on searching, and now that you haven't found anything, shouldn't your Liu family pay these ten yuan?"
"We can't let the child's words be worthless, can we? How will they ever be able to hold their heads high in the compound? We need to set a good example for the child; we must keep our word, right, Chief Li?"

He didn't forget to bring up Deputy Director Li at the end, trying to legitimize his unreasonable demands.

These words were quite shameless, and even the usually composed Uncle Tong felt his blood boil upon hearing them. He frowned and couldn't help but want to retort, "Then how about the matter of hitting someone?", but was stopped in time by Deputy Director Li's eyes.

Deputy Director Li wanted to see what Liu Changfu was really up to and how he would deal with this situation where Liu was clearly taking advantage of him.

To everyone's surprise, Liu Changfu did not show any anger on his face. Instead, the corners of his mouth twitched, revealing a very faint smile with a hint of cold mockery.

He didn't look at Ma Youcai's disgusting face; his gaze seemed to drift towards the deep night outside the window, and he spoke in a tone filled with distant reminiscence:
"Brother Ma is right. He's a man of honor, he accepts his losses."

He initially affirmed Ma Youcai's words, but what followed caused the smile on Ma Youcai's face to gradually freeze.

"To be honest, when I was young, I had an even more fiery temper than Xiaojun, and I was also very unsettled, and I didn't consider the consequences of my actions."

Liu Changfu seemed lost in memories, his voice calm, "Sometimes on the street, I'd act recklessly, picking up things that others had accidentally dropped, not only not thinking about returning them, but thinking it was just good luck, that it was my right to have them, and acting quite arrogantly, thinking that nobody dared to do anything to me..."

He suddenly brought up this seemingly unrelated past event, which even revealed some of his own shortcomings. Grandpa Tong and Deputy Director Li in the room were both puzzled. Only Yang Guangming vaguely sensed something and listened intently, trying to catch the hidden meaning in Liu Changfu's words.

"Until one time, again because of a small amount of money, I ran into a brick wall, offended someone I shouldn't have, and suffered a huge loss."

Liu Changfu's tone remained calm, but his words carried a chilling undertone that sent shivers down one's spine. "I almost lost my life that time. I was bedridden for a full six months before I could get out of bed."

Only then did he realize his mistake, understand fear, and forcefully change his arrogant and reckless temper.

He paused, his gaze seemingly unfocused, "Some lessons can only be learned through bloodshed."

After liberation, the world changed. We poor people were able to turn our lives around. I was lucky enough to get a job in a factory as a worker, earning a living through physical labor. My family finally had a stable life.

He turned his gaze away from the window and slowly swept it over Deputy Director Li, Uncle Tong, and Yang Guangming in the room. Finally, like two cold awls, his gaze settled on Ma Youcai's face, which was beginning to change color. "But I, Liu Changfu, will never forget the bloody losses I suffered and the deadly lessons I learned in the past. They are etched into my bones."

He slowly and deliberately said, “I have lived most of my life and have been on the verge of death. I have come to realize a truth: no matter when or what position a person is in, he must always be honest and down-to-earth in his work.”

You can't be envious just because someone else has a little oil in their pot or an extra piece of meat in their bowl. You can't let that make you greedy, lustful, or lead you to think about getting something for nothing, or resort to crooked means. Otherwise…”

He raised his voice slightly, carrying an undeniable warning: "Who knows when retribution will come, and it will come quickly and ruthlessly, leaving you no chance to regret it."

He emphasized his words, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Especially now, it's a new society where the people are the masters, the government is in charge, and we emphasize laws and regulations!"
Anyone who dares to resort to the old-fashioned, shameless tactics of the past, engaging in petty theft, selfish acts, and going against the people—humph!

He let out a short, cold sneer through his nose, "Sooner or later you'll all be going to jail! When that happens, you won't even have time to cry!"

His tone was not intense at all throughout; in fact, it could be described as calm and even casual, as if he were having a casual chat.

But the threats and warnings contained between the lines, based on his own bloody and tearful experiences, pierced Ma Youcai's heart like cold needles, making him go from initial smugness to astonishment, and now to unease and a chill down his spine.

Ma Youcai's smug smile froze completely, replaced by a hint of annoyance at having his secret exposed, and a growing sense of unease and fear.

He stiffened his neck, glared, and tried to refute something, wanting to accuse Liu Changfu of making veiled attacks.

But under Liu Changfu's calm yet seemingly piercing gaze, and amidst the bloody recollections and the stark warning of "going to jail," he opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single powerful rebuttal; his momentum had been completely suppressed.

Liu Changfu stopped looking at him, as if he were no longer an important person.

He turned to face Deputy Director Li, his face regaining that polite, slightly aloof expression befitting his status as an ordinary worker:

"Director Li, Lao Tong, Comrade Guangming, the truth is that today's incident was caused by my son Xiaojun's youthful impulsiveness and lack of understanding of propriety. He caused trouble for you all and also affected the harmonious atmosphere of the compound."

Since he made the bet, our Liu family will cover the loss without hesitation.

As he spoke, he took out a slightly worn ten-yuan bill from his pocket, gently placed the money on the tabletop, and then slowly and firmly pushed it towards Deputy Director Li with two fingers.

This action carries an undeniable resolve, as well as a sense of sacrifice.

Liu Changfu said calmly, "This ten yuan is to teach Xiaojun a lesson, so that he will remember this setback and control his temper in the future."

It can be considered..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ma Youcai's pale face, his tone flat and emotionless, "Give the Ma family's eldest and second sons some peace of mind. After all, being wrongly accused is not a pleasant experience."

This last sentence, while sounding like a concession, is actually full of irony.

Liu Changfu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a decisive force: "Let's leave it at that."

We admit it, and we won't cause any more trouble for Director Li and everyone else. We also won't pursue who hit my son anymore.

From now on, I will discipline Xiaojun properly, make him restrain his temper, behave properly, and stop causing trouble.

He emphasized "disciplining his own son," and stopped mentioning the Ma family, as if it were a matter from another world.

After he finished speaking, he nodded to Deputy Director Li, Grandpa Tong, and Yang Guangming as a greeting, then stood up and walked steadily toward the door. Throughout the entire process, he did not look at the dumbfounded Ma Youcai again, as if he were just a wisp of polluted air.

This series of actions was clean and efficient. They paid the money according to the bet, seemingly admitting defeat and giving in, but they also used the most ruthless language to severely reprimand Ma Youcai, expose his true nature, issue a stern warning, and finally leave gracefully, leaving Ma Youcai standing there, at a loss for what to do.

This ability to be patient, shrewd, and in control of the situation, as well as the power contained in his words, made everyone present, including the experienced Deputy Director Li, secretly startled and gained a new and deeper understanding of Liu Changfu, who usually kept a low profile.

As soon as Liu Changfu left, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat subtle and oppressive.

Ma Youcai stared at the glaring ten-yuan bill on the table, his face turning pale and then red, oblivious to the fact that the cigarette he was holding was almost burning his fingers.

Clearly, Liu Changfu's barbed and murderous words made him extremely unhappy, as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water. His arrogant and smug attitude was completely shattered, leaving only a lingering fear and the embarrassment of being stripped naked in public.

He took two quick drags on the nearly burnt-out cigarette, the scorching filter burning him. He hissed as he snapped out of his daze, hurriedly stubbed it out in the ceramic ashtray on the table, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace as he said to Deputy Director Li:
"Director Li... you see... Old Liu has admitted it, and the money... the money has been paid, so... is this matter over?"

Although our family, Da Guo and Er Guo, were wronged and scolded, but... but considering we've been neighbors for so many years, we... we won't hold it against them.

He was incoherent, wanting nothing more than to grab the money and leave this place that made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Deputy Director Li looked at Ma Youcai's blustering yet cowardly and incoherent words, and his mind was filled with contempt.

He spoke calmly, his tone carrying an undeniable authority: "Old Ma, whether this matter is truly over or not doesn't depend on me, nor on whether Old Liu pays back the ten yuan, but on how you yourselves behave and conduct yourselves from now on. Old Liu's words, though unpleasant to hear, are reasonable."

We live in a new society that values ​​obeying the law, maintaining neighborly harmony, and helping each other.

Go back and keep a close eye on your two boys. They're not young anymore, they're in their mid-twenties. Stop them from loafing around all day, causing trouble, and bringing shame to the neighborhood.

Finding a decent job and living an honest life is better and safer than anything else.

He emphasized the word "safety" with a meaningful tone.

Ma Youcai's face flushed red and then turned pale, burning with embarrassment. He nodded repeatedly, almost burying his head in his crotch.
"Yes, yes, Director Li is right, you're right in your teaching. I'll definitely... I'll definitely give them a good talking-to when I get back and discipline them severely!"

He could clearly sense that Deputy Director Li, Grandpa Tong, and even Yang Guangming, who had been sitting quietly with clear eyes, were looking at him with undisguised indifference and aloofness. Knowing that staying any longer would only bring him humiliation, he hurriedly stood up, his hand trembling slightly as he reached for the ten yuan on the table. But then he hesitated and looked at Deputy Director Li.

Deputy Director Li waved his hand, too lazy to say anything more.

Ma Youcai felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He grabbed the ten yuan, clutched it tightly in his hand, and bowed and scraped as he said:
"Well... if there's nothing else, Director Li, Lao Tong, Comrade Guangming, I... I'll head back now."

After saying that, he turned and rushed out of the room almost as if he were fleeing, his footsteps quickly disappearing into the night in the courtyard.

Only after Ma Youcai's footsteps had completely disappeared did Grandpa Tong let out a heavy sigh, as if he were exhaling a breath he had been holding in for a long time.

He said with great concern, "Director Li, Guangming, I'm afraid this matter is not over yet."

Old Liu... I've lived in the same courtyard as him for decades, I know him too well.

He's not the type to swallow his pride and bear losses.

Back in the day, he was a well-known figure on the streets, a ruthless and fearless individual.

Today, he so readily paid up and left without arguing a word. I have a feeling... this isn't like him. He's holding back something even stronger, like he's gathering strength for a more devastating counterattack.

He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his brow furrowed: "Old Ma is a reckless idiot. He uses all his cleverness on cheating and slyness, and he can't see through the dangers here at all."

His two sons were even more reckless and impulsive, only knowing how to be brave and violent.

If Old Liu really gets serious, and instead of acting openly, he uses some underhanded methods we can't even imagine, given the Ma family's limited skills, they'll definitely be the ones who suffer in the end. And they might even suffer in silence, not even knowing how they were taken advantage of.

Grandpa Tong's voice carried a certainty based on long-term understanding and a deep worry.

"Personally, I'd love for the Ma family to suffer a great loss and learn a lesson they won't forget, so they'll behave themselves in the yard and stop being so arrogant and causing such a mess."

Grandpa Tong sighed, then changed the subject, “But I’m afraid… I’m afraid that Old Liu will go too far, or that things will escalate beyond the scope of a neighborhood dispute, and that it will be difficult to resolve. In the end, it will require Director Li to worry and put in a lot of effort, and it might even tarnish the reputation of our entire neighborhood.”

His concerns are not unfounded; if neighborhood conflicts get out of control, the consequences could be unpredictable.

Deputy Director Li was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Old Tong, I understand your concerns."

The three members of the Ma family, father and sons, are indeed the biggest destabilizing factor in our compound, like a rat dropping that spoils the whole pot of soup.

The things that have gone missing in the courtyard in the last six months are most likely related to them, but no one has any evidence.

If this incident can truly teach them a lesson, leave them badly scarred, and make them behave themselves in the future, it might not be a bad thing for the entire hospital.

His words were quite subtle, but the meaning was clear: from the perspective of maintaining the long-term peace and tranquility of the compound, he would like to see the lawless Ma family taught a lesson. However, due to his status and responsibilities, he could not say it outright, much less encourage it.

"I hope so. I hope they'll be smart enough to learn their lesson after this incident." Grandpa Tong sighed deeply again and shook his head.

With things having come to this point, Deputy Director Li has at least temporarily brought the matter to a close.

Although everyone present had a clear understanding of the truth, without concrete evidence, they could only accept the current superficial result of "the Liu family admitting defeat and the Ma family being pleased."

As for the undercurrents beneath the surface, we can only wait and see.

"Director Li, Uncle Tong, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

Yang Guangming stood up at the opportune moment and said goodbye.

He came here today mainly to show his willingness to participate. He has already achieved his goal and does not want to get too involved in any potential disputes that may arise later.

"Okay, Guangming, thank you for making this trip today. Thank you for your insightful suggestion." Deputy Director Li also stood up and saw him off sincerely, personally escorting him to the door of the main room.

"Yes, Guangming, come visit the front yard often when you have time, let's chat," Grandpa Tong said, standing up. He had a very good impression of Guangming.

"Director Li, Uncle Tong, please wait, please wait." Yang Guangming said politely, then turned and walked out of the brightly lit main room of Director Li's house.

Yang Guangming walked unhurriedly towards the east courtyard, his mind still replaying the scenes from that evening at Director Li's house.

The sharpness and determination hidden beneath Liu Changfu's calm face; Ma Youcai's cowardly and blustering demeanor; Uncle Tong's worry and frustration at his son's lack of ambition; Deputy Director Li's helplessness and inclination as he weighed the pros and cons...

All of this gave him a more comprehensive and profound understanding of this seemingly ordinary tenement.

After tonight's in-depth conversation and observation, he has gained a clearer and deeper understanding of the Liu Changfu and Ma Youcai families in the courtyard.

Liu Changfu appears to calmly accept defeat, but in reality, he is patient, deep, and has a profound understanding of the world.

His willingness to pay compensation was less a sign of weakness and defeat, and more a temporary act of forbearance.

His words about "retribution" and "going to jail" were both a stern warning based on his own experience and a silent declaration that he would not give up so easily.

Yang Guangming was almost certain that this matter would not end there.

Liu Changfu will certainly not swallow this insult easily, but his method and timing of revenge will likely be unexpected, precise and ruthless, leaving no obvious evidence, and may very well leave the Ma family with no way to seek justice.

Ma Youcai, on the other hand, is a typical example of someone who is all bark and no bite, a coward who acts tough and reckless in the courtyard, bullying honest people. In reality, he has a narrow vision, lacks true wisdom and foresight, and cannot see through the true nature and methods of people like Liu Changfu.

His two sons, Ma Daguo and Ma Erguo, seem to have perfectly inherited his "advantages," imitating him and even surpassing him in their audacity, becoming even more unscrupulous.

This time, he seemed to have gotten a huge advantage, getting ten yuan for free and even beating up Liu Xiaojun. In reality, he had unknowingly brought trouble upon himself and planted a bomb in his own home that could explode at any time.

The bitter consequences of the future will likely far outweigh the meager "benefits" they have gained today.

Back in the east courtyard, Tian Yufen was sitting on a small stool at the entrance of the main room, intently sewing shoe soles.

The old lady sat to one side, slowly fanning herself with a worn-out palm-leaf fan, but her eyes kept glancing toward the door, as if she were somewhat restless.

From the inner room came the even, long breaths of her younger sister, Yang Shanshan; the little girl had already drifted off to sleep.

"You're back? Why did it take you so long to talk about it?"

Upon hearing the noise, Tian Yufen immediately put down her needlework, looked up, and asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.

The old lady also stopped fanning herself and turned her gaze over.

Yang Guangming sat down on the low stool next to his mother and briefly recounted the conversation he had with Director Li that evening, as well as the subsequent behavior of Liu Changfu and Ma Youcai, how Liu Changfu lost money and what he said, and how Ma Youcai reacted. He emphasized the key points.

He omitted Liu Changfu's bloody past, emphasizing only the meaning of his warning and his calm attitude.

"That's roughly how it went. The Liu family paid ten yuan in compensation, so it's considered settled on the surface. Director Li and Grandpa Tong also agree that this is the current situation, and they'll see how things develop," Yang Guangming concluded.

After listening, Tian Yufen frowned slightly, unconsciously twisting the coarse hemp rope used for sewing shoe soles in her hand, and sighed:
“These neighbors live so close together, they see each other all the time, and now this has turned out like this, how are they going to see each other in the future? How are they going to get along? It’s really a disaster.”

She was a traditional woman who longed for harmonious neighborly relations and mutual assistance. She felt a deep-seated aversion and worry about this kind of open conflict.

The old woman fanned herself with a palm-leaf fan, a knowing glint of experience flashing in her cloudy eyes. Having lived most of her life, she had seen too many people and things. She spoke slowly, her voice hoarse with the characteristic huskiness of old age:

“The Ma family is dishonest. They steal things and then turn around and accuse others, extorting money from people and beating their children. In the past, they would have been considered local thugs who deserved to be taught a lesson!”

The head of the Liu family seems quiet and unassuming, but he probably has his own ideas and plans.

In my opinion, this isn't over yet! Just wait and see, the Ma family will be crying soon.

Her tone was resolute, with a prophetic calmness.

She paused, looked at Yang Guangming, and said in a warning tone, "Guangming, we have just moved here. Our foundation is shallow and our population is small."

We should just observe these kinds of things, keep the truth in our hearts, and never get involved. Getting involved will only bring trouble.

Those two families, one might be a ruthless and taciturn person, and the other a shameless and cunning individual; neither of them are easy to deal with.

"Let's close our doors and live our own quiet lives, keeping to ourselves; that's better than anything else."

"Grandma, don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I know what's important."

Yang Guangming nodded, reassuring the old man, "Director Li asked me to go, just to show respect, listen to his opinions, and establish an image of democratic consultation."

He knows how to handle things. We'll live our own lives, not actively seeking trouble, but we also need to be discerning, knowing who to keep and who to befriend.

"Yes, it's good that you know what's important."

Hearing her son's words, Tian Yufen breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help but admonish him, "In the future, when you see those two families in the yard, try to avoid them to prevent getting into trouble."

"Yes, Mother," Yang Guangming replied obediently.

He looked up at the night outside the window. The moon had risen high, its clear light shining like a ribbon, filling the quiet courtyard and casting a long, dappled shadow of the old pomegranate tree.

"It's getting late, Mom, Grandma, you should get some rest too."

Yang Guangming stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders. "I have to get up early tomorrow to go to the department store and the camera equipment store to try and buy the bicycle and camera."

Thinking about the plans that would come to fruition tomorrow, a hint of lightness crept into his voice.

When the topic of purchasing large items came up, Tian Yufen and the old lady immediately showed expectant and gratified smiles, temporarily putting aside the annoying disputes in the front yard.

For an average family, acquiring a bicycle and a camera is a significant event, signifying a substantial improvement in their quality of life.

"Yes, yes, business is important. Go to sleep, we have to get up early tomorrow." Tian Yufen said, and began to neatly pack up her sewing basket, carefully putting away the half-finished shoe soles and hemp rope.

The old lady, holding onto the armrest of the rocking chair, stood up, stretched her slightly sore and numb legs, and murmured contentedly:

"Having a bicycle is great; it'll be much more convenient to go to work and buy grain and coal... A camera is also good; it can take pictures to remember things. If the weather's nice tomorrow, I'll take a picture of my old woman too..." (End of Chapter)